Knot-tying mechanism.



illalifPi Patented June 25, 1912.

tfiz/eizlvr rm W #24 W A SMITH KNOT TYING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NQV.15, 1907.

W. A. SMITH.

KNOT TYING MECHANISM.

' APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 15, 1907.

Patented June 25, 1912.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

emma W. A. SMITH.

KNOT TYING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION IILED NOV. 15, 1907.

Lfiw m Patented June 25, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W. A. SMITH.

KNOT TYING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15, 1907.

Patented June 25, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEBT 4.

m d,2 fe W j M G I I fiwmm UNITED srArEs PATENT orEIoE.

WILLARD A. SMITH, 0E MELROSE, MASSACHUSETTS, ass'renon 'ro UNITED SHOE MACHINERY company, or PATERSON, nEw JERSEY, A conronn'rron or NEW JERSEY.

KNOT-TYING MECHANISM.

1 30,619- p fi t of Letters Patent Patented June 25, 1912.

Original application filed January 16, 1906, Serial No. 296,388. Divided and this application filed November 15, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLARD A. SMITH, citizen of the United States, residing at Melrose, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new.

and useful Improvements in Knot-Tying Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. i

The invention relates to a knot tying mechanism of that type in which the knot is formed by drawing a bight or end of a cord or cords through a contiguous loop por:'

tion of the cord, and its object .is to provide a mechanism of this type which will operate in a more certain and reliable.manner than mechanism as heretofore constructed.

In accordance with one feature of the invention, the loop through which the bight or end of the cord is drawn in tying the knot is formed by a rotary looping post provided with a cord retainer which holds the cord upon the post during the formation of the loop, and subsequently releases the cord so that the loop may pass off of the post as the hight or end of the cord is drawn through the loop. This cord retaining and releasing device insures the proper looping of the cord at each operation of the knottying mechanism, both by rendering the picking up of the cord by thelooping post certain, and by preventing the escape of the cord from the post during the formation of the loop.

In the the threa retaining device consists of a latch which, when in retaining position, forms an eye at the side of the looping post through which the cord is threaded preparatory to the loop-forming operation, and this latch is operated to open the eye for the escape of the cord after the loop hasbeen formed and the bight or end of the cord is to be drawn through the loop. In this preferred construction the looping post is formed by the shanks of two jaws which act to grip the cord contiguous to the loop and draw itthrough the loop as it passes off the ends of the jaws, theretaining latch being mounted to rotate with the jaws.

A further feature of the invention conreferred form of the invention,-

Serial No. 402,249.

sists in providing a cord engaging arm which places the cord between the working faces of-the jaws so that the gripping of the cord is rendered certain.

Further features relate to certain cordguiding and manipulating devices whichcontribute to the certainty with which the operations incident to the tying of the knot are performed, and thus render the mechanism more reliable in action.

The features of the invention may be embodied with advantage in various machines in which a knotting of one or more cords is effected, the specific construction, and arrangement of the parts being modified to cooperate with the other mechanisms with which the knotting mechanism is combined.

In an application filed January 16, 1906, Serial No. 296,388, which has matured into Patent No. 962,105, dated June 21, 1910, I

structed in accordance with the invention and embodied in a machine for lacing together eyeleting quarters of shoe uppers, and this mechanism is especially designed to cooperate with the other arts of this machine, and to tie the ends of the lacing together in a certain and reliable manner.

The present application is a division of the above application, Serial No. 296,388, and the knot-tying mechanism shown in the drawings is the same in specific construction and arrangement of parts as the mechanism shown in that application.

In the,drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the knot-tying mechanism; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 2, showing also a portion of the machine frame ad acent to the knot-tying mechanism with a work guard and cord clamps or grippers mounted thereon; Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken in aplane at right-angles to that of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on in front elevation, illustrating the operationof the knot-tying mechanism, Fig. 14 also illustrating the action of the cord engaging finger in placing the cord between the aws of theknot-tyin mechanism; a side elevation o the 'parts' illustrated in Fi 13; Figs. 16 and 17 are views in front an side elevation illustrating the action of 5 the knot-Ugh illustrated in Fi 20, with a portion of the.

6 machine frame s own in section.

' The machine of the applicationabove ref'e1 'red to is provided with two clam s .or

rippers which .grip the twoends the acing cord after the lacing together of the upper has been completed, preparatory to the tying of the ends of the cord together. The -knotjtying mechanism is located between these grippers and the lacing devices, and after the lacing has been completed the knot tying mechanism acts to tie together the ends ofgthe lacing cord by forming a loop in the cords and drawing 'a bight through the loop. V In the construction shown in the drawings the cord holding grippers of the lacing machine. are indicated at 1 and 2. The loop-. forming device of the knotting mechanism consists of a. cylindrical post 3 formed by the lower ends of two semi-cylindrical members 4 and 5. These members are mountedin a sleeve 6 and are provided at their lower extremities with 006 erating jaws 7 and 8 for gripping the cord.

\ During the tying of the knot, the members 4 and are rotated to form a loop about the post 3 and are also moved longitudinally to (grip the cord between the jaws 7 and 8, an to draw it through the loop. The sleeve 6 is mounted in a bearing in a head 9, and is rotated toimpart rotary move- 45 .ments to the members 4 and 5 throu h a pinion 10 secured to the upper end 0 the sleeve. The pinion is engaged by a segmental gear 11 formed on one end of a lever 12, the other end of which is provided with a roll 13 which engages a cam groove 14 formed in a cam drum 15. The members 4 and 5 are connected to the sleeve 6 by means of a bar 16 extending through a longitudinal slot 17 formed in the a 'acent-faces of the members. The members are thus rotated with the sleeve while being free to move longitudinally therein. 7

Longitudinal movements are imparted to the members 4 and 5 by means of levers 18 and 19, the forward ends of which are con-' nected to the members,.and the rear ends of which are provided with rolls which engage cam grooves 20 and 21 formed in the drum 15. The forward ends of the levers are connected to the members 4 and 5 by means of the hot-tying collars22 and 23 secured toithe respective members, -and provided with I grooves in which are mounted rings 24 and 25, to which the ends of the levers are pivotally connected; The members 4 and 5 are thus moved longitudinally by the swinging movewith the sleeve 6.

The looping post 3 is provided with a cord retaining latch 26 which is mounted in a recess 27 formed in the adjacent faces of the members 4'and 5, and is pivoted at 28 to the member 5. The upper end portion 29 of the latch extends outside of the opening 27 below the sleeve 6, while the opposite forming of the loop about the post. The member 4 is provided with an inclined face 33 which directs the cord' downward below the latch 26 as the looping of the cord about the post is completed. I

Depending from the sleeve 6 and partiall surroundin the members 4 and 5is a ha f sleeve 34, t e length of which is such the cord'to strip it from the looping post as it travels upward. As the looping post travels upward after the loop has been formed thereon, the lower end of the sleeve open the eye 31 and release the cord. The lower portion of the half sleeve 34 is provided with a face or rejection 35 with which the end 29 of the latch. contacts when the members 4 and 5 are given a downward movement in brin ing the parts into normal position. By t e engagement of the end returned to its initial position, ready, to receive the cords preparatory to the next tying operation.

A thread arm 36 is arranged between the tying mechanism and cord gripping devices 1 and 2, and is formed with a curved portion 37 to engage the cord. This arm is secured in the forward end of a bar 38 mountis reciprocated by means of a bell crank lever 39, one end of which is connected by a link 40 with the bar, and the other end of which carries a roll 41 which engages a cam 42. The roll is held in engagement with the cam by a spring 43. The thread looping post, and serves to retain the cord against premature displacement duringthe that the lower extremity will co-act with 6 strikes the end 29 of the latch 26, swing-= ing the loop portion of the latch outward to 29 with the face 35, the latch is positively ment of the levers while being free to rotate end is arranged to enter arecess 30 formed ed to slide in the frame of the machine, and

A knot tightening arm 44 is arranged be-' low the knot tying mechanism, and is secured to the forward end of a bar 45. This bar is mounted to slide through the frame of the machine below the bar 38, and is operated by a bell crank lever 46, one end of which is connected by a link 47 with the bar, and the other end of which carries a roll 48 engaging a cam 49. The roll is held in engagement with the cam by a spring 50. The knot tightening arm is mounted to reciprocate between the tying mechanism and a guard arm 51 which is aflixed to the head 9. This guard arm acts as a contact member against which the work is drawn by the pressure of the knot tightening arm upon the cord, and by resisting the movement of the work cooperates with the knot tightening arm to tighten the knot which has been formed. At the time the knot tying mechanism is to operate to tie together the ends of the cord, the cord has been laced through the work, and the work is hanging from the gripping devices 1 and 2, the cord passing through the eye 31 as shown in Fig. 9. The sleeve 6 now begins to rotatefand the cord is wound about the looping post 3, successive positions of the parts separated by angles of 90 being shown in Figs. and 11. As the looping post rotates the cord is retained upon the post and carried about the post by the latch 26, the post being gradually raised as it is rotated. During the first half revolution of the looping post the inclined groove 32 acts to guide the cord about the periphery of the post, and

to retain it upon the post. As the first half revolution is completed, the inclined sur-.

face 33 acts to deflect the cord so that as the rotation of the post continues, the cord is directed below the latch 26 as indicated in Figs. 11 and 12. During the rotation from the position indicated in Fig. 11. to the position indicated in Fig. 13, the members 4 and 5 are operated to open the jaws 7 and 8 to receive the cord. While the jaws are thus opened, the thread arm 36 travels between the post 3 and thegrippers 1 and 2 and carries the cord positively between the jaws 7 and 8 as indicated in Figs. 13 and 15. The jaws are then closed to grip the cord, and the members 4 and 5 complete their upward movement. As the members4 and 5 com lete their upward movement, the latch 26 1s operated to release the cord, whereupon the loop on the post 3 is stripped off the end of the post by engagement with the half sleeve 34. The thread arm acts to ping devices 1 and 2 previous to the stripping of the loo oil" the end of the post 3 so that when the 00p isstripped .ofi' the end of the post the work is left hanging from the jaws 7 and 8 as shown in Fig. 16. At this time the work is below the work guard 51, and -the knot tightenin arm 44 is moved into contact with the cor below the knot, drawin the work against the guard arm 51 and tig tening the knot. After the knot is thus tightened the jaws 7 and 8 are separated to release the cord, and the parts return to their initial posit-ions, ready for the next cycle of operations.

Having set forth the nature and object of the invention, and specifically described one form of mechanism in which it may be embodied, 'what I claim is 1. 'A knot tying mechanism, having, in combination, cord grippers arranged to grasp the ends of the cord, rotatable and reciprocating-jaws adjacent the cord grippers, a thread arm, means for actuating the thread arm to place the cord in said jaws and means for actuating the jaws.

-2. A knot tying mechanism, having, in combination, a looping post provided with an eye through which the cord passes, gripping devices for holding the end of the cord, jaws at the lower end of the post, means for rotating and reciprocating the post and operating the jaws, and means for opening the eye to release the cord.

3. A knot tying mechanism, having, in combination, rotatable and reciprocating jaws, a cord retainer mounted to rotate with the jaws and arranged to retain a cord upon the jaws during their rotation and to release the cord after it has been seized by the working faces of the jaws and means for actuating the jaws.

4. A knot tying mechanism, having, in combination, a rotatable and reciprocating looping post, cord gripping jaws moving with said post, a cord retainer arranged to retain a cord upon the post during its rotation and to release the cord after it has been seized by the jaws, and means for actuating the cord retainer and jaws.

5. A knot tying mechanism, having, in combination, a rotatable and reciprocating looping post about which the cord is looped, cord gripping jaws moving with said post, a thread arm, means for actuating the thread arm to carry the cord between the jaws, and means for actuating the jaws.

6. A knot tying mechanism, having, in combination, a rotatable and reciprocating looping post, cord gripping jaws moving with said post, means for stripping the loop ofi the end of the post, and .a knot tightening device arranged to engage the cord between the work and the knot.

combination, rotatable and reciprocating jaws and arrang jaws, a latch mounted to rotate. with the ed to retain a cord upon the jaws during their rotation, and to release the cord after 'it has been seized by the work-ing'faces of the 'aws, and means for actuating the latch an jaws.

8. A knot .tying mechanism, having, in combination, a rotatable sleeve, jaws mounted to rotate therewith and reciprocate therein, a cord-retaining latch mounted on the jaws arranged to retain a cordon the jaws during-their rotation, and to be actuated to release the cprd by contact with the sleeve after the cord has been. grasped by the working faces of the jaws.

9. A knot tying mechanism, having, in combination, a rotatable sleeve,-jaws mount- .edto rotate therewith and rgciprocate there in, one of said jaws being provided with a cord guiding groove and the other jaw being provided with an inclined face to defleet the cord, and a projection from the latch.

11. A-knot tying mechanism, having, in combination, rotatable and reciprocating jaws, a-latch arranged to retain a cord on the jaws during their rotation and to release the cord after it has been grasped by the working faces of the jaws, means for ac tuating the jaws and latch, a thread arm, and means for actuating the thread arm to I for rotating the place the cord between the working faces 46 of the jaws.

12. A knot tying mechanism, havin in combination, means for holding the en s of ping oif the jaws during their rotation,

means-for actuating the retainer to release the cord, and means for actuating the'jaws. 13. A knot tying mechanism, having, in

'co mbinationpmeans for holding the ends 'ofthe cord, a rotatable and reciprocating looping ,post arranged to form a loop in the cord, cord gripping jawsv moving with said'post, a cord retainerarranged to prevent the cord from slipping off the post during the formation of the loop, means for actuating the retainer to release the cord,:

and means for actuating the jaws.

lfl. A knot tying -mechanism, having, in combination, a looping post provided with a cord engaging surface forminga gripperjaw, a cooperating jaw carried by the post, a cord retainer on the post, means for rotating the post to form a loop of cord about the post, means for engaging the jaws with the cord, and means for actuating the retainer to release the cord.

15.. A knot tying mechanism, having, in combination, a rotary and jeciprocating looping post, cord gripping paws carried by the post, a cord retainer on the post, means post to form a loop and operating the grippers to draw a cord through the loop, and means for actuating the retainer to release the cord.

In'testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

WILLARD A. SMITHf Witnesses: A

IRA L. FISH, 'ANNIE C. RICHARDSON. 

